A food blog all about healthy, simple, seasonal vegetable recipes

lemon risotto with asparagus & peas

This dish to me is spring on a plate. Tender yet crunchy green vegetables with bright creamy lemony rice. The part you don’t see in this tidy photo is the arguing and bickering that went on behind the scenes.

Jack isn’t (yet) the biggest fan of asparagus or peas and he threw a mini tantrum when I quickly tossed in handfuls of both of these vegetables near the end of his risotto-stirring duty. I can’t recall exactly how it went because it was a fight about nothing (the good ones always are) but some of the remarks that flew around were “come on you just think you won’t like it!” and “now you’re just cooking for the blog!”, and “really you’re going to walk out that door over peas!”

It really was a pointless argument because in the end he loved this meal (I win), but I’m not one to gloat…

This really is one of the most delicious risottos we’ve made. There’s a technique in this recipe that is absolute genius. I can’t take credit for it, but I’m excited to share it nonetheless. When your stirring is all done… the part where you would normally add more butter or handfuls of cheese to create your final creamy risotto texture, stir in a whisked egg yolk instead. It creates the most luscious texture and rich flavor without all the extra butter and cheese. It’s so delicious you’ll even be able to sneak in a few extra green vegetables.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat butter, oil, onion, garlic, and a few pinches of salt. Cook until onion is soft, 4-5 minutes.

Add rice, stir together, and let the rice toast for about 1 minute.

Add white wine and half the lemon juice and let it cook, stirring for about 2 minutes until the wine is somewhat evaporated.

Add stock, one ladle full at a time, stirring continuously. When stock becomes mostly cooked down, add the next ladle full. This process should take about 20 minutes. Add more stock or water if necessary. During the last few minutes of this process, add in asparagus and peas.

What a luscious photo with those bright spring vegetables. We’re so pleased that we were able to provide a bit of inspiration. Check out some other recipes from the book in “Cook: In a Class of Your Own” – all the recipes we tested were keepers. You have a lovely blog and we will be dropping by again.

Asparagus has been used as a vegetable and medicine, owing to its delicate flavour, diuretic properties, and more. It is pictured as an offering on an Egyptian frieze dating to 3000 BC. Still in ancient times, it was known in Syria and in Spain. Greeks and Romans ate it fresh when in season and dried the vegetable for use in winter; Romans would even freeze it high in the Alps, for the Feast of Epicurus. Emperor Augustus reserved the “Asparagus Fleet” for hauling the vegetable, and coined the expression “faster than cooking asparagus” for quick action.^

Hi there. I made this risotto last night. What a treat!!! I added leaks with the onions in the beginning. Fantastic. Will definitely make it again. Your website is very beautiful and I cant wait to try more recipes!